Prime Minister Paul Martin said Friday he separates his privately held Roman Catholic beliefs from his duties as a politician, despite the apparent threat he could lose access to the sacrament of communion for his government's stand on same-sex marriage. Catholic bishops meeting in Vatican City at the first synod led by newly anointed Pope Benedict XVI are expected to consider refusing communion to politicians who pass laws that violate church doctrine. "I am a practising Catholic, in fact I am a strong Catholic," Martin said at a news conference with visiting Mexican President Vicente Fox. By: Steve Mertl, Yahoo.com.For the complete story, click here (last visited October 1, 2005, REO).